1Assistant Professor of
2Former Assistant Professor of
One of the world's most powerful superfoods, the pulse is an unexpected ally against climate change and a crucial part of the vital web of biodiversity. It has a significant role to play in providing a sustainable solution for tackling the malnutrition crisis in India. However, pulse production growth has been slow and volatile, thus leading to volatility in prices. In this paper, we note that an effective and inclusive procurement-based MSP, along with suitable non-price interventions, can ensure enhanced pulse production on a sustained basis. It is seen that the suggested policy mix will stabilise pulse prices at a level that is affordable for consumers, while also being remunerative for the producers. Going forward, the inclusion of pulses in schemes such as PDS, ICDS and MDMS can help break the vicious cycle of poverty and malnutrition. Making our agriculture nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart through a pulse policy overhaul is the theme navigating the paper.
Pulse, Price volatility, MSP, Procurement, Non-price interventions, Sustainability
